BMC offices become dumping yard for electronic items

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation premises have turned into a dumping yard for almost all the officers, employees and corporators. There is a huge pile of electronic waste hundreds of computers, printers, telephones and other electronic equipment are seen haphazardly lying about at the BMC headquarters opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and also at various ward offices in the city.

The discarded equipment gathers dust in the BMC headquarters at CST

Corporators say this trash has been lying on the premises for many years. Every time one passes through the office, one has to pass by this waste, on which layers of dust have accumulated. According to the administration, disposal of e-waste is a major issue, as there are very few places where it can be dumped. Last week, NCP corporator Dr Saeeda Khan, from L ward, proposed to recycle the equipment and reuse some of the parts.

Said Dr Khan, “This e-waste is a nuisance and makes the offices look extremely dirty. There needs to be some kind of responsibility and seriousness towards cleaning this waste. We can’t let it accumulate like this and we can’t even dump it as garbage, as it will be harmful to the environment. I put forward a proposal in the general body meeting to reuse this waste in a way that the copper and bronze wires can be utilised. The plan was passed by all.”

SVR Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, who is also in charge of the IT department, said, “A notice of motion by the corporator was initiated and it was sent to the commissioner for suggestions and inputs. The administration is thinking of alternate options to deal with the e-waste, but we have not finalised any plan yet.”